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(No Model.) v 2 sheets-sheep, 1. T. T. HEATH-8v A. N. VERDIN.

RATGHET MOVEMENT.

Patented Feb. 4 1896.

Witnesses wwv. $w

Attorney (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet T. T. HEATH & A; N. VERDIN.

RATGHET MOVEMENT No. 553,987. Patented Feb. 4, 1896.

.Witnessesv I Inventors i W. Attorney H. LREDuE. w

NTTED STATES I ATENT FFICE.

THoMAS T. HEATH, or LOVELAND, AND ALoIS N. VERDIN, E GLENDALE, OHIO; SAID VERDIN ASSIGNOR TO SAID HEATH.

RATCH ET-MOVEM ENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 553,987, dated February 4, 1896. Application filed April 28, 1894:. Renewed August 19, 1895. Serial No. 55 9,806. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that we, THOMAS T. HEATH, of Loveland, Clermont county, and ALOIS N. VERDIN, of Glendale, Hamilton county, Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ratchet-Movements, of which the following is a specification.

In various machines it is often desired to advance a part intermittently at varying meas ured degrees of distance. Our invention pertains to a ratchet-movement for this purpose designed for feeding the matrix in matrixmaking machines, and our invention will be readily understood from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a front elevation of a ratchet mechanism exemplifying our invention, the conditions chosen for illustration comprehending a shaft which is to be intermittently turned a greater or less number of degrees, the moving being derived from a reciprocating part having a degree of motion corresponding with at least the maximum degree of motion which is to be given to the shaft; Fig. 2, a plan of the same, and Fig. 3 a vertical section of the same.

In the drawings, A indicates a ratchetwheel each tooth of which represents one degree of the advancing motion to be imparted to the wheel; B, the shaft to which the wheel is fixed; C, the pawl; D, the pawl-carrying arm; E, a rod connected to the pawl-carrying arm and designed to have a reciprocating motion of such extent as to give to the pawl a motion corresponding with the maximum number of steps or teeth which the ratchetwheel is to be fed forward at any one stroke; F, a stop-pawl to prevent backward motion of the ratchet-wheel; G, a spring holding the pawl normally out of engagement with the ratchet-wheel; H, a stop limiting the outward movement of the pawl as effected by the spring; J, a housing or fixed support for the parts; K, a pin arranged to slide in the housin g across the path of the end of the pawl and disposed in advance of the initial end of the active stroke of the pawl, this pin standing normally back out of the path of the pawl; L, a similar pin disposed in advance of pin K a distance corresponding with one tooth of the ratchet-wheel, there being a series of these pins consisting of as many pins as there are to be different degrees of advancing motion for the ratchet-wheel, the illustration show ing seven pins to provide for advancing the ratchet-wheel seven teeth or any less number of teeth, as desired; M, the terminal pin of the series; N, the fourth pin of the series, the drawings showing this pin as being protruded into the path of the pawl, and O a yielding wing engaging all of the pins and tending to hold them in idle position, but capable of yielding as any pin is pushed into active position, this wing being illustrated as provided with a weight tending to swing it backward and hold the pins out of action, the design being, however, that this wing, if desired, may be operated by some moving part of the ma chine in connection with which our invention is to be employed.

The point of the pawl is inclined so that if it engages one of the pins in its path the pawl will be pushed down into engagement with the ratchet-wheel, and the outer surface of the pawl is of a form to be engaged by such protruded pin. throughout the forward stroke of the pawl.

Examining Fig. 1 it will be obvious that when the pins are all back the pawl will make idle strokes free of engagement with the ratchet-wheel. Normally the pins are all back and held back by the wing O. The drawings Show pin N as protruded into the path of the pawl. Under these circumstances, as the pawl advances it will, upon reaching pin N, be forced down into engagement with the ratchet-wheel and will be held in such engagement throughout the completion of the forward stroke of the pawl, the consequence being that the last four-sevenths of the pawl stroke will be effective in advancing the ratchet-wheel. If pin M, instead of pin N, were the protruded pin then only the final seventh of the pawl stroke would be effect-.

ive. If pin L were the protruded pin then six-sevenths of the pawl stroke would be effective, and if pin K were the protruded pin then seven-sevenths of the pawl stroke would be effective. I11 thus speaking of fractions of the pawl stroke it is to be understood that reference is had to fractions of that portion of the pawl stroke which can possibly be effective. Pawl strokes can only be effective while in engagement with a pin, and the pawl may actually have a stroke in excess of the requirement, the excess being wasted in the preliminary travel of the pawl before the first pin can be reached. Immediately upon the starting back of the pawl the pin which has been active must be withdrawn so as to permit the pawl to rise. These pins may be moved into and out of active position in any manner desired, according to the nature of the machine in connection with which the illvention is employed. The general situation 1 will be such that connections from the ma chine will be employed to advance the pins and release them at the proper time. In the illustrations the outer ends of the pins are shown as provided with pivots designed to receive such connections from mechanism for operating the pins in case it should be desirable to operate the pins automatically.

It will be obvious that any degree of advance, from one step to seven steps, may be given to the ratchet-wheel by employing the appropriate pin. and that, if desired, the degree of advance may be changed with each forward impulse of the pawl. The illustrations comprehend seven pins for seven selections in the degree of advance of the ratchet, but a greater or less number may of course be provided for. according to requirements.

It will be observed from an inspection of Fig. 1 that the pawl occupies a position normally out of engagement with the teeth, the spring G holding it thus. But when the pawl runs under a projecting pin. then it is forced into and held into engagement with the ratchet-wheel throughout the remainder of the stroke of the pawl; and in order that this may be effected the outer surface of the pawl is of such curvature as to be concentric with the center of motion of the pawl when in its inward position, that surface being ecj centric to such center when the pawl is out i of engagement with the teeth. The inclined I end of the pawl running under a projecting pin moves the pawl inwardly to engaging position.

\Ve claim as our invention- 1. In a ratchet-movement,the combination substantially as set forth, of a movable part provided with a series of equallyspaced ratchet-teeth, a pawl-carrier having a to-andfro motion of the extent equal at least to the greatest advance to be given to the ratchet, a pawl carried by said carrier and having an inclined end and an outer surface parallel with the path of movement of the pawl when engaged, a spring holding said pawl normally out of engagement with the ratchet-teeth, and a series of pins arranged to slide into and out of the path of said pawl and adapted, when a pin is in the path of said pawl, to force the pawl into engagement with the ratehet-teeth and positively hold it in such engagement during the balance of the advancing stroke of the pawl, the pins of said series being spaced in correspondence with the spacing of said ratchet-teeth.

2. In a ratehet-movement,the combination, substantially as set forth, of aratchet-wheel, a pawl-carrying arm, a pawl carried thereby and having an incline at its end and having an outer surface concentric with the ratchetwheel when engaged, a spring holding the pawl normally out of action, and a segmental series of pins spaced in accordance with the spacing of the ratchet-teeth and arranged to slide into and out of the path of the pawl, the pins being in such position that each pin will, when moved into the path of the pawl, urge the pawl into engagement with a ratchettooth and maintain it in such engagement during the balance of the forward stroke of the pawl.

THOMAS 'l. HEATH. ALOIS N. VERDIN.

Witnesses:

M. B. Fnmus, i). J. RENNER. 

